De Ponte Cellars

The name De Ponte comes from the matriarch of the Baldwin family, Shirley Baldwin. De Ponte, her maiden name which is of Portuguese origin, honours her father who grew grapes and made his own wine in California’s San Joaquin Valley. De Ponte released its first Pinot Noir to critical acclaim in 2001, reflecting the dedication of the Baldwin Family and its French Winemaker Isabelle Dutartre to produce a remarkable wine. Duarte learned the art of winemaking in her home of the Burgundy region of France and each vintage reflects her uncompromising commitment to quality and tradition. In addition to its Pinot Noir, De Ponte is known for its Melon. The Melon grape is not only rare in Oregon, but also in the whole U.S. The original growers thought the vines would produce Pinot Blanc grapes, though they were mistaken. It turns out the varietal they planted was Melon de Bourgogne, which is identical to the grape used in France’s Muscadet which is produced in the Loire Valley of France. The result is a delightful white wine which has generated a loyal following for De Ponte.